The following is the February 1990 installment of Puszone

Thanks to Scott Slimm for the article.

Late. The typical never-ending story that continued even against all
their complaints. But they were strong, supportive, and determined.
It was their job, no matter what occurred, no matter what went down.
They always crushed their fingers to the bone to deliver, or so they
thought. They were men who shall be introduced on a first name basis
only, with little to no description since that is hardly necessary.
Kyle and Morton, or as his friends called him Mort, were two unusual
characters with different personalities and lifestyles. This is not
normally a common bonding for friends, but the team effort of the work
situation had brought them together in friendship. Even though Mort had
title leverage and a higher salary than Kyle, they worked in the same
department, just the two of them. Their jobs were computer works,
typesetting (or topography in sophisticated dreams), proofreading and
general assemblage of pica bound magazine copy and assorted jobs that
were thown, forced or bribed their way. A college bound life had not led
them to this, they were just in the right place at the right time, knew
the right people, and had the right skills. Plus, the pay seemed right
at the time. Seems like a bunch of rights, so where were the wrongs?

The daily lunch break at the rundown, half-working pinball machines
that provided free play for employees and the run-of-the-mill guest
proved interesting one afternoon. Seems the magazine they worked for
was quite the greed monger. Since the mag was at its prime he privately
intended to sell it off to a larger publisher, collecting on as much
capital as he could. But this information was unknown to Kyle and Mort
as well as the rest of the staff. As usual, one of the pinball machines
weirded out and needed a quick fix-up, so Mort crawled underneath to
check the electrical connection. Kyle watched for activity to see if
Mort got the right spot. A phone page soon called Kyle away from the
machines, and Mort was left waiting there alone on the cold ground.
The owner walked in the room with two others, and , thinking no one
was around, he discussed his proposition to sell the magazine to two
representatives from a larger publishing group. To the owner's dismay,
the two flatly refused the just-upped offer, due to accumulated
hazardous waste on the site of the magazine's building. Since the deal
included the building, its contents, magazine, staff, everything, the
publishing groupd representatives said they would come back with a lower
offer that included the cleanup of the waste. The owner was furious,
screamed a million obscenities and left the room. Mort got out from under
the pinball machine when the room was empty, astonished by what he had
just heard. Kyle came back in the room, confused by the look on Mort's
face. The story was told.

Three months later, Mort was at the keyboard sizing copy, narrowly
pushing the deadline back a bit, trying to keep up, when he got a phone
call. It was a representative from the publishing company wanting to meet
him for dinner. He agreed to meet, even though he something was up. Only
Kyle and he knew of the acquisition attempt by the publishing company;
it wasn't open house knowledge. He didn't tell Kyle about the dinner
meet. The publishing company was interested in bringing Mort over to
their operation, but with the information that Mort had overheard he
knew the main objective was to hire the magazine employees in order to
regroup the magazine under a different name. This was because the
publishing company had decided not to purchase the magazine. Of course,
the publishing company never told Mort of their attempt to buy the magazine.
Mort was confused about what to do, especially when they told him they
were not interested in hiring Kyle. His confusion worsened a week later
when the magazine owner held a special meeting, revealing that the publishing
company had come to buy the magazine but didn't want to pay its worth, also
claiming they would relinquish most of the staff. Most knew the owner was lying.
Then the owner said he feared that the publishing company would attempt
to hire most of the magazine's employees to start their own magazine. The
owner called for unity and loyalty to the magazine. This was so unusual
for the employer to show such paranoia in a meeting. After the meeting Mort
told Kyle about the dinner and his subsequent confusion. Kyle was also pretty
confused because things were becoming tense lately. Kyle had started wrapping
himself up in the monitor graphics he created, and falling back on drugs to
buffer his already confused, frustrated state of mind. Kyle had become vicious
to Mort and escaped into the vision of the resolution lines. The stress on Mort
was at an all-time high.

Three weeks later Kyle had heavy black circles under his eyes, was lost into
the monitor screen, barely talked and hardly got any work done. The drug usage
and stress had increased. Mart & Kyle's friendship wasn't what it used to
be, the comradeship no longer existed. Kyle was lost and Mort couldn't find him.

The phone rang out for Mort. This time it was a representative from the
competition, the maazine that both the publishing company and the magazine
he worked for despised. Mort arranged the requested meeting. Magazine B offered
Mort complete editorial control, three times the salary and bonuses including
six months' rent on a new apartment since Mort would have to relocate if he
took the job. The offer sounded too good to refuse. Mort tried to talk to Kyle
about it, but Kyle just said he was a traitor. Mort was stressed out, confused
and strained at Mag A, so he took the job with Mag B and moved away, thus
splitting up the Kyle and Mort team. Kyle got Mort's position.

Two months later, when the holidays came around, Mort went back home to Magazine A
town to see family and friends. It was natural he wanted to see Kyle. He called
Magazine A and Kyle was quiet, a bit cold, but agreed to see Mort later at the
office since he had to work late, and he would be there alone. Mort got to Mag A
around 6:58, most of the lights were on, the door was still open, which was odd
since the mag usually closed at 5:00. He was supposed to meet Kyle at 7:00. He
went in and up the stairs. The office hadn't changed much. He walked down the
hallway to the last room on the right. The lights were on, music was blasting,
the faint hum of churning computers was evident. Mort started to walk into the
room when he stopped in the doorway, seeing Kyle slumped over the keyboard, blood
splattered everywhere. hearing a sound behind him, Mort turned to see the owner
walking toward him. "What are you doing here?" the owner asked as he reached
the doorway where Mort stood. Both looked at kyle slumped over...dead. To be
continued?

All right, Puszoners, an odd little tale someone told me, but only you can predict
what or who caused Kyle's death. It's a murder mystery for sure, and you're the
sleuths of Puszone. Ha ha ha ha ha!

SPOTLIGHT POSITION TWO

A strong structure was forming with this band, a powerful local following and a
demo tape that captured a few minds. The name of the band was Raw Deal, but signing
to In Effect, they found that another band had copyrighted the name. This raw deal
forced the band to change their name. Too bad that a band with such a strong undergound
following would seemingly have to start all over. The band has been renamed Killing
Time, and just released their eleven-track debut LP titled Brightside.
Killing Time provides brutal doeses of New York style hardcore spliced with metallic
bits without losing that punk stamina. The rewarding combination has short stabs
of forceful riffs, chanting choruses and a thick vocal deliverance. Killing Time
stands headstrong above the current rebirth of hardcore blood. Their album, like
the band, is an attention grabber. The non-pretty boy bellows of vocalist Anthony
Comunale echo with raw stamina and deep anger; a discussion on the psychological
mishmash of today's world. His ponderings yell out as the barrage of guitar, bass
and drums create a head-rattling experience. Killing Time proclaims their commitment
to a sound that is crude, sincere and enjoyable. This likeable bunch will hopefully
garner the respect they deserve with a sensational but short release. Brightside
deserves your attention. On In Effect Records.

SMASHED & BASHED DIVISION
kings of punk whose lanes exist only for the traffic of ferocious dog-bite spin
ball smashes. Bash yourself silly if you don't recognize the call fo the wild,
the siren of mayhem Poison Idea. The monsters of original hardcore stylings are
still continuing after all their years of crazed noise. This time there are three
teases to taunt you. The first is the U.K. pressing 12" called Iam Mackaye,
which is the Filth Kick EP and the Getting the Fear 12" combined along
with a new track, "Burned for the Last Time." On In Your Face Records.

Next the Poison Idea boys jumped into the collector's market with a colored gem of
classical origins. Eight years ago, P.I. struck a vital blow in the hardcore scene
with a demo tape that proved HC existed outside of the stereotyped capitals; the
tape started the evolution of one of the gutsiest bands ever. For the first time,
it's been put to vinyl called Darby Crash Rides Again. Featuring classic tunes
like "Give It Up", "Young Lord", "MIA", "Castration", and "Think Twice",
this definitely defines the roots.

A new 7" picture disc tracks songs of current P.I. madness, highly refined since those
distant days, yet still a hammering blow. Check out Jerry A sitting back in the passenger
seat as the car's tires expel a smoky burnout, and the tune "Just to Get Away" grooves
on. The flip is a cover of MC5's "Kick Out the Jams".

MORE NYHC DIVISION

The sound pulls you in, heavy hardcore rhythms with a metal influence
that isn't speed metal, thrash or crunch noise, this is a forward pound,
solid stance drive. Uppercut sounds a lot like Killing Time and delivers
the power that makes the NYHC sound so popular these days. On their debut
12" EP, 4 Walls, Uppercut makes seven tracks noteworthy with screaming
thick guitars that roar with teeth-gritting momentum only to sear a smiling
gleam of high chord picks. Hollering vocals run a chanty blur as the band
continues to keep a strong melodic beat without going overboard with the speed
or snare drum. Lots of interesting guitar bits add to the style of this Uppercut
release on Blackout.

Also on Blackout is the New York Hardcore-Where the Wild Things Are
compilation album featuring nine bands, represents what's happening. Personal
faves go to Maximum Penalty and Raw Deal(before the name change) with two
tracks each. Also featured is Outburst, Uppercut, Sheer Terror, Gorilla
Biscuits, Breakdown, Life's Blood, and NBSH. eighteen tracks round out this
sample dosage of style and energy from a scene so vital to hardcore today.
Blackout has provided an excellent comp.

Even though the intro song "New Direction" inspires an excellent head-tapping
hardcore harmony, the rest of the album sadly doesn't keep it up. Start Today
is the title and the band is Gorilla Biscuits. Their 7" EP last year was a dynamic
fun fest with similarities going to early 7 Seconds, almost sometimes too evident.
Now Gorilla Biscuits runs through twelve tracks, and only a few grab attention.
while the music is fun and had a steadfast beat, it lacks the power to capture
the energy that exist here. CIV has a very unique voice that sometimes works magic
to a song, with its pops and raw breaks and depth to this Gorilla Biscuit unit.
While this LP is enjoyable and will please more than a few, Gorilla Biscuits
will still be a strong band to watch for. On revelation Records

Limited quantities of 7" releases by young bands are popping up everywhere. In
Your face is a fun EP of '83-style hardcore, not really in the current NYHC
style. It is raw, not too fast with cleaver hooks and catchy melodies, buzzsawing
guitars, atypical drum beats and a vocalist whose voice bounces with the harmonies.
Six tracks on The Grub EP provide noting out of the ordinary, but are
enthusiastic, aggressive and enjoyable. On Common Cause.

OLDTIMERS? DIVISION

The Accused has released a limited edition 7" split records with a new
band called Morphius. it's been a while since The Accused has surfaced
with some new material and here Blain is in true psychopathic vocal form.
The band pounds with a metal pulse, while still punk/thrash crazy. An
interesting track is called "Brutality and Corruption". Morphius is full
on speedcore that is not phenomenal or memorable, but lovers of this genre
will shag. on Empty Records.

Here's one that snuck in, a new 7" by the Straw Dogs. Yup, it's that same band
once called the F.U.'s. The aggressive and catchy title track, "Man in the High
Tower" is very FU sounding, except for the leads. Great guitar work, and John's
vocals are in true form. As for the flip, "Do or Die", really Youth Brigade sounding,
especially in the harmony. Even though this isn't hardcore, their roots shine
brightly. On Gawdawful Records.